Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program

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T-VEC (Imlygic) Treatment for Melanoma

Skin cancer remains the most diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with roughly one in five people developing it in their lifetime. MUSC Health's Jenny Sullivan Sanford Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program is the only one of its kind in South Carolina. Our program, based on a multidisciplinary team approach, is committed to enhancing the care you receive for melanoma and other skin cancers.

We’re Here For You

At Hollings, we know a cancer diagnosis can be a life changing event. We are here to support you through your journey. Call 843-792-9300 and make an appointment. Experience what sets us apart.

National recognition in cancer care

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center has been recognized as High Performing in Cancer Care in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. This honor underscores our advanced expertise and dedication to providing patients with innovative treatments and personalized care.

The Hollings difference

Treatment and Support

Our team of melanoma and skin cancer specialists bring you the latest, state-of-the-art technology to properly diagnose and treat your skin cancer. Our treatment options available to you include:

Early Diagnosis & Staging

Cancer resection surgery
Sentinel lymph node biopsy – A minimally invasive technique to identify microscopic lymph node disease and direct further necessary therapy.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

This technique is used to minimize the amount of normal tissue excised at surgery while maximizing chances for clear margins. The technique is especially useful in treating pre-cancerous skin lesions, such as melanoma in-situ in the head and neck region.

T-VEC (Imlygic)

T-VEC (Imlygic) is a treatment which uses a virus to infect and kill cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. This FDA-approved medication is for the treatment of advanced melanoma. T-VEC is injected directly into melanoma tumors to shrink or kill cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy

State-of-the-art radiation therapy, including the TrueBeam STx, TomoTherapy®Hi-Art® Treatment System and Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexions™.
Brachytherapy for temporary radiation implants.

Refer a skin cancer patient

To refer a skin cancer patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Paula Pearson at 843-985-0584.

Nurse Navigator Support

Our melanoma and skin cancer nurse navigator, Melanie Wilson, RN, BSN, OCN, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

The most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Thanks to advancements in treatment, all three types of skin cancer are usually treatable if they are caught early. To reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, limit your exposure to the sun, wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, and pick out the right type of sunscreen.

Skin cancer doesn’t just impact the elderly — it is becoming more common among younger patients, too. It is recommended that you receive routine annual skin screenings by a trained dermatologist. Depending on your family and personal history of skin cancer, more regular screenings may be necessary.

Our renowned team of researchers and doctors are constantly looking for ways to improve treatments and outcomes for skin cancer patients. This is largely made possible thanks to research and clinical trials.

Some recent research projects include:

Finding ways to activate T-cells to fight melanoma and make treatments more effective.
Rolling out innovative therapies like T-VEC to successfully target tumor cells without harming normal cells.
Speeding up T-cell therapy to make the treatment more broadly accessible for cancer patients.

As South Carolina’s only NCI-designated cancer center, Hollings offers you clinical trials and treatments that aren’t available anywhere else in the state. These opportunities provide you with access to the latest medications, therapies, and surgical techniques that can improve your outcomes. Learn more about clinical trials at Hollings and see our current melanoma and skin cancer clinical trials.

I said, ‘My goals are I want to live life to the fullest, and I want to see my grandchildren grow old.' And Dr. Sutton came over, and he patted me on the leg, and he said, ‘We’ve got this.’

Carol Helton melanoma survivor Carol's story